Joseph Menna

Joseph Francis Menna (born March 1970) is an American sculptor and engraver who has worked in both digital and traditional sculpture media. He has been the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint since February, 2019.

Biography

Menna trained formally at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New York Academy Graduate School of Figurative Art in New York City, New York and Saint Petersburg Art and Industry Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.[1] Menna sculpted the reverse of the 2010 Lincoln Cent. He also supplemented his training with studies at Arts Students League, and the Sculpture Center in Manhattan, New York.[1]

Menna was raised in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township, New Jersey. After graduating from Highland Regional High School he attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia from which he graduated in 1992. He was awarded a master's degree in 1994 from the New York Academy of Art.[2]

As a professional fine art sculptor, Menna's clients include the United States Mint, DC Comics, Fisher-Price and Hasbro, among others.[3][4]

In 2005, Menna joined the United States Mint as a medallic sculptor. He sculpted the design of United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Associate Designer Lyndall Bass into the 2010 Lincoln Cent and his initials, JFM, appear on the reverse of the coin under the right side of the scroll.[5]

His sculpting work can also be seen on the 2014 Everglades National Park quarter.[6]

Menna has also done the Digital concept sculpture for the Statue of Unity, situated in Gujarat, India. It is currently the tallest statue in the world at 597 feet.[7]

In February 2019, Menna became the 14th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint.[8] The position had been vacant since 2010.

A resident of Bordentown, New Jersey, Menna and his wife have three children.[9]

Awards and honors

Along with the 2010 Lincoln Cent, Menna is also credited with designing or sculpting:

References
  1. "The United States Mint Sculptors and Engravers". United States Mint. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  2. Mucha, Peter. "Carving heroes and villains from virtual clay; Joseph Menna has worked on everything from Jefferson to Batman to the world's biggest statue.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 18, 2014. Accessed April 25, 2016. "So it's not surprising to hear Menna say his enthusiasm for art grew from his love of comic books, sci-fi and fantasy while growing up in Blackwood, Camden County, where he graduated from Highland Regional High School."
  3. Menna, Joseph. "Home". Joseph Menna. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  4. Menna, Joseph. "Biography". Joseph Menna. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  5. "The United States Mint Pressroom". United States Mint. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  6. Everglades National Park Quarter, National Park Quarters. Accessed April 25, 2016. "Designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Joseph Menna, the reverse or tails side of the Everglades National Park Quarter features an anhinga with outstretched wings on a willow tree with a roseate spoonbill visible in the mid-ground."
  7. "American artist Joseph Menna commissioned to make statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel in Gujarat". April 15, 2014.
  8. "Joseph Menna, Chief Engraver | U.S. Mint". www.usmint.gov.
  9. Mucha, Peter "Carving heroes and villains from virtual clay; Joseph Menna has worked on everything from Jefferson to Batman to the world's biggest statue.", March 18, 2014. Accessed July 22, 2020. "Menna met his wife at the Steiglitz academy. Julianna Menna, a painter with her own fantasy-world style, specializes in portraying grotesque characters in ornate dress.... They’re raising three children in Bordentown, Burlington County."
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